The Clinical Nurse Practice Specialist (CNPS) is an operating unit, service-line, and system clinical leader who integrates advanced nursing expertise with performance improvement to drive safe, evidence-based, and outcomes-focused care. This role combines clinical expertise with performance and educational leadership to promote high-quality nursing practice, lead care transformation initiatives, and foster real-time accountability across the healthcare continuum.
- Leads the design, implementation, and evaluation of care strategies that align clinical standards with quality and performance goals.
- Translates emerging evidence and innovations into practice across diverse care settings.
- Promotes evidence-based practice, nursing research, and performance improvement in support of nursing excellence across the system.
- Conducts gap analysis to address barriers and utilizes process improvement strategies to facilitate change and best practices.
- Contributes to the advancement of nursing practice at the unit/system, local, state, national, and/or international level, and is instrumental in the application and leading of the Professional Practice/Care Transformation Model across the health system.
- Serves as a subject matter expert in quality, safety, and key performance metrics. 2.
- Analyzes legislative, regulatory, and operational policies as they impact nursing practice and patient population outcomes.
- Supports design of strategies and resources with nursing leaders, educators, providers, and operational teams to align performance goals with care delivery workflows across the system.
- Possesses advanced knowledge and articulates the professional scope and standards of nursing practice. Interprofessional Collaboration, Consultation, and Clinical
- Mentors and coaches clinical staff's professional development from novice to expert, including support for evidence-based projects, research, and publication.
- Provides expert consultation, education, and coaching for patients/populations with complex health care needs using a broad range of theories and evidence.
- Leads role-based education grounded in current evidence and organizational standards.
- Acts as a liaison between frontline teams and senior leadership, advocating and advancing a culture of safety, sense of belonging, and professional development.
- Demonstrates leadership in cultural, ethical decision-making, and patient advocacy. Additional Duties as Assigned.
- Less than 10% of the time may be required between clinical sites may be required
- On-site employee - Works in the office or at a physical workplace, interacting with colleagues face-to-face
Minimum Required Qualifications:
- Master of Science in Nursing, ideally in a clinical specialty or leadership track
- 3 years of clinical nursing experience and 2 years in a specialty or system-based performance/quality role
- Valid, active unencumbered nursing license approved by the Georgia Licensing Board
- BLS and Certification in clinical specialty (e.g., ANCC, NAHQ, AACN)
- Knowledge, skills, and abilities (required): - Demonstrated leadership in quality improvement (QI) or performance excellence initiatives
- Advanced competency in clinical assessment, treatment protocols, and evidence-based interventions for complex or high-acuity patient populations
- Preferred Doctoral degree (DNP or PHD) or APRN Experience
- Experience with data-driven decision-making, root cause analyses, and regulatory compliance (e.g., CMS, Joint Commission, Vizient, Leapfrog)
- Experience translating evidence into practice through protocol development, clinical guideline creation, or best practice implementation
- ACLS and/or PALS if applicable or other specialty certification
Join our team today! The Emory Healthcare Network, established in 2011, is the largest clinically integrated network in Georgia, with more than 3,450 physicians concentrating in 70 different subspecialties. We are made up of 11 hospitals-4 Magnet® designated, the Emory Clinic, and more than 425 provider locations